-
Revolutionary invention of the printing press makes books available to the masses for the first time. -
Franklin donated a collection of books to a Massachusetts town that named itself after him. He was asked to donate a bell, but he said that "sense" was more important than "sound". This created the first public library. -
US has largest literate public in the world due to the availability of reading material -
The first major public library, the Boston Public Library, was established in 1854 -
The first totally tax supported library was established in Peterborough, New Hampshire. -
From 1886 to 1919, more than 2,000 library buildins in more than 1,400 communities, were donated by Andrew Carnegie. -
The first library school, in Columbia University's School of Library Science, was founded by Melvil Dewey. -
T. Keslo transforms the Los Angelas Public Library by aboloshing membership fees, agitating for open stacks, and establishing the first systematic training for library employees from 1889 to 1895 -
The Grapes of Wrath was banned for 2 years, from 1939-1941 -
ALA begins to take stance against censorship in 1950. "Freedom to Read" is adopted in 1953.